Convertible freight-car.



CONVERTIBLE FREIGHT CAR.

- APPLICATION man MARJQ. 1914.

. Patented! sept. 19,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. S. HART.

CONVERTIBLE FREIGHT CAR.

APPLICATION mso MAR. 2s, 1914.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. S. HART.

CONVERTIBLE FREIGHT CAR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2s. '1914.

Patented Sept.'` 19,' 15H6.

6 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

72 esesfl, TLX S01 y JZz/Qgnf E] a u ZZ" (fr/y I fr digi@ y y www@ Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 54 n nu II .MUII." 1NR nu JI I I u nI I 1 hfygar/ H. S. HART.

CONVERTIBLE FREIGHT CAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.28. 1914. 1,198,725.

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CONVERTIBLE FREIGHT CAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAII.28. 1914.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6 iff/2 655 65.' Q9 /d UNITED sT'aTEs PATENT oFFIcE.

HARRY s. HART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, assIGfNoR To RODGER :BALLAST CAR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,- ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CONVERTIBLE FBEIGHT-AR..

To all whom` it may concern Be it.known that I, HARRY S. HART, a

c itizenof the United States, residing at Chi-- cago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certaininew and useful Improvementsin Convertible Freight- Cars, of which the following is a specifica-` v, tion.

4My invention relates in general to freight cars and more particularly to acombined ballast and general service car.

Heretofore freight cars convertible into either flatbottom gondola cars or centerA 2o eral service cars. So far as I am aware, however, no cars have heretofore been constructed capable of satisfactory use for all'of the purposes for which the above mentioned convertible cars and the side dump general service cars are separately adapted.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a combination freight car which may be readily converted into a flat bottom gondola car, or intoa center dump hopper car orinto a flat bottom side dump general service car.

A further object of my invention is to provide Va combination freight car adapted for a variety of uses whic will be comparatively simple in construc ion, convenient in adjustment, and efficient in use.

My invention will be more fully disclosed hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and prac-y tical, form and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the end portions of a car embodying my'invention; Fig. -2 a vertical section on line 2, 2 Fig. l; Fig. 3 an enlarged detail view of the means for adjustably supporting one of the end walls; Fig. 4 a cross sectional view, the parts being arranged to form a center dump hopper car; Fig. 5.a View similar to Fig. 4, the parts being arranged to form a flat bottom side dump general 'service car; Fig. 6 a detail view showing a structural modification of the means for supporting the central ex- Y. 'Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 19, 1916, Application ftiled March 28, 19.14. Serial No. 827,921. i i

tensions of the doors; Fig. 7 an enlarged deta 1l longitudinal sectional view on line 7, 7, Fig. 4 of the car when arranged as a center dump hopper car; Fig. 8 an enlarged detail plan vlew of a portion of the car* when arranged as a general-service car; and Fig.' 9 across sectional view on line 9, 9, Fig. 8.

tSimilar' reference character/s are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

:Reference letter A designates onel of the K end sills, oneof the bolsters, and D One of the cross bearers, or transverse members of the under-frame, which are located intermediate of the holsters. Preferably the car floor is divided into eight sections by means of theend sills, fthe bolsters, andj five cross bearers,`suchas D. a

C indicates draft -beamls which extend outwardly from each of the holsters to the adjacent end sill.

E2 .designate the sides of the car, which is preferably of the gondola type, the-sides vbeing rigidly secured to the transverse membersv of the underframe by means of stakes E.

e2 designate beams which extend longitudinally of the car along the inner surfaces ofthe car sides immediately above the transverse "underframe members, and which serve to add rigidity to the car frame and to the connection therewith of the sides.

F designates one of the end walls which is preferably made longitudinally adjustable so as to occupy a position either at the end of the car or-.in a plane above the cross bearer D nearest that end of the car. In order to securely support the end wall F in either of its positions a'vertical central stake f is secured to the outer surface thereof which extends slightly below the lower edge of the end wall and is adapted to be received within a socket o', or c2, formed in the floor plate 0 above the draft beams C. The top brackets f and 2 secured to each upper side 105.

edge of the en wall, and extends through a hole in the adjacent Z-bar e along the top of the adjacent side of thel car. A nut f3 engages the end of each of the bolts which projects through the adjacent side wall. The inner end of each bolt is bent downwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to overlie the inner one of the supporting brackets f. A pin f4 extends through each bolt intermediate of the supporting brackets and serves as a stop to limit the inward movement of the' bolt when being disen gaged from the ear side. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 that the portions of each end wall on which the bolts are mounted overlie the projecting horizontal flangesof the Z-beams e along the up per edges of the car sides.

The two bolsters are rigidly connected by longitudinal beams which pass through and are rigidly connected to the cross bearers D. These longitudinal beams, or sills, are preferably located a considerable distance inwardly from the car sides, and below the plane of the ear floor, as shown in Figs. 4'and 5, in which G-l and G2 designate the said longitudinal sills. Each of the sills may be conveniently formed of two superposed Z-bars arranged with their upper and lower horizontal flanges extending inwardly and with their overlying horizontal flanges extending outwardly. Flanged plates g and g2 are secured to the inwardly projecting upper Hanges of the sills G and G2 and extend downwardly in a converging direc-4 tion. These plates are supported adjacent their lower edges by longitudinal flanged beams g3 andv g4 which are interposed between the saidv plates and the inner surfaces of the lower Z-beams forming the sills G and G2. A wall G3 extends downwardly be.- low the lower edge of the plate g so as to form a continuation thereof, such wall being conveniently formed as part of the flanged beam g3. The lower end of the wall G3 is connected by suitable braces G3 with the several cross bearers D. The wall G3 extends 'continuously from one of the outer cross bearers D to the other outer cross bearer D so as to occupy the space intermediate of the trucks. Pivotally supported by suitable brackets secured within the flanged longitudinal beam g4 is a door G of a length equal to that of the wall G3. To

the lower edge of the door G are secured chains H by any suitable fastening device, such for instance as eyebolts h, such chains being connected to -a longitudinal shaft H journaled beneath the cross bearers D by suitable lbrackets 11.. The plates g and g2, together with the inclined wall G3 and door G, form a central hopper extending longitudinally of the car intermediate of the. end cross bearers D.

The cross bearers D are cut away to receive the longitudinal sills composed of the superposed Z-bars, the flanged plates g', g2, and the interposed flanged beams g3, g4, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. An angle bar d extends beneath the longitudinal sills and vertically alines with each cross bearer D to which it is rigidly connected.

D and D2 designate gusset plates which necting angles (il, d2 are riveted to the ends of a transverse angle bar g, which Ylies on the opposite side ofthe cross bearer D and extends immediately above the upper horizontal flanges of the plates g', g2 as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 9. The portion D3 of each cross bearer D intermediate of the flanged plates g and g2, converges downwardly and is provided with a flange d3 which overlies-sand is secured to thehorizontal flange of the underlying transverse angle bar d.

Floor sections K and K2 are provided along the opposite sidesl of the car intermediate of the end cross bearers D, one of such 'Hoor sections being located at each side of the longitudinal c'enter of thecar between adjacent cross bearers D. The lower edge of each Hoor section K and K2 is provided with longitudinally projecting trunnions k at its sides, each of which is preferably provided with an anti-friction roller K. The

rollers K are adapted to engage seats Z and Z2 formed adjacent the ends of brackets L', L2. Two of such brackets are secured to the surfaces of the cross/bearers D in positions to be engaged by the rollers on the trunnions at the lower edge of each floor section, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 7. When the rollers on the trunnions engage the4 outer seats Z in the brackets L', L2, the floor sections are supported in inclined positions as shown in Fig. 4, the outer upper edges of the floor sections in such positionsresting against the inner surface of the ear sides.

Inasmuch as the floor sections are of a members n which surround the trunnions on the floor section to which it is thereby pivotally connected. The edge of each plate N, opposite to that which is pivotally connected to the adjacent fioor'section, is provided with bolts N which are supported in keepers n. at the sides of each plate N. The bolts N are adapted to be projected beyond the side edges of the extension plate N on,

whichthey are mounted, and to overlie the adjacent side edges of cover plates g rigidly secured to the upper central portions of the flanges of the cross bearers `D, shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 8, when the parts of the car are adjusted to form a flat bottom general service ear, in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

The floor sections in each end of the car on opposite sides of the bolster are formed by dro 3 doors O and O2, two of such doors being ocated on each side of the draft beams C.

Extending longitudinally of the car beneath the Hoor level are rotary and bodily movable shafts P and P2, such shafts eX- tending through upwardly and outwardly inclined slots formed in the cross bearers, bolsters, and end sills. The shafts P and P2 are provided with sprocket wheels p' and 722t which engage sprocket pins q and g2 supported adjacent the vlower edges ofthe Vinclined slots in the transverse members of the under-frame. The ends of the shafts P' and P2 which project through the end sills are provided with suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism R and R2 for rotating the shafts and thereby causing them to travel out- -wardly and upwardly, or inwardly and downwardly, within the slots in the transverse members of the underframe throughv which they pass. y

Pivotally connected to the inner surfaces of the car sides immediately above the ends of the cross bearers D are floorplates S and S2, which maybe swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. Llwhen the car is ar-` ranged as a center dump hopper car, or may be swung downwardly to overlie the outer edges of the floor sections when the car is arranged as a general service car, as shown in Fig. 5.

The manner of using and operation of my improved combination car are as follows: lVhen the car is to be used for purposes for which a center dump hopper car is best adapted, as for instance ballasting, the floor sections K and K2 are placed in the inclined position shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the lower edges of the floor sections being supported by means of the rollers on the v trunnions engaging within the outer seats l of the supporting bracketsL and L2 and the upper edges of the floor section being retained against the inner surfaces of the sides by means of the clamps M', which engage the upper ends of the filler plates M. Inasmuch as each filler plate M is pivotally connected at its lower end to only one of the adjacent floor sections, itis obvious that the floor sections may be separately placed in their inclined positions, one of the filler plates being coincidently placed in such inclined position with the door section to which it is connected. .The Hoor extension plates N overlie at their lower edges the inclined plates g and g2 along the upper edges of the hopper. The

end walls F are moved inwardly and secured in planes above the outer cross bearers D so as to serve as end walls for the upper portion ofthe hopper formed by the floor sections K', K2. The lading may be dumped at the center of the car by permitting the chains H to unwind from the shaft H and thereby allow the door G to swing away from the inclined wall G2. The hopper may be again closed by winding the chains H upon the shaft H'` so as to swing the door into the clpsed position shown in Fig. 4.

When it is desired to use the car for purposes for which a flat bottom, side dum'p car is best adapted, the floor sections K', K2 are separately moved inwardly at their lower edges until the rollers on their trunnions are seated within the inner recesses Z2 in the brackets L and L2. `The floor, sections are then supported adjacent their outer edges by means of the shafts P and P2, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. In this position of 'the floor sections the filler plates M rest upon the top flanges of the cross bearersD and lie intermediate of the car sides and the cen-I tral fixed cover plates d. The extension. plates N are swung upwardly into horizontal alinement with the floor level and the bolts N .are forced outwardly to overlie the lixed cover plates q on the adjacent cross bearers D, thereby supporting such eXtension plates in positions to fill the space intermediate of the :inner edges of the twoseries of floor sections K andvK2. The end walls F are then adjusted outwardly to the ends of the car sides, as shown in Figs. 1

- and 2.

In order to 'permit the floor sections toi' es S2 overlie the outer edges of the floor sections, while the transverse filler platesM overlie the sideedges` of the`adjacent floor sections. Coincidently with thel operation of the floor sections K', K2, the drop doors O and O2 are also operated, through the mev dium of the shafts P and P2. Inlieu of supporting the inner `edges ofthe floor extension plates N by means ofthe bolts N', brackets T'may be secured to the cross bearers D Vupon which the inner edges of saidv floor extension plates may rest when the; inner edges of the floor sections are moved inwardly to the positionsthey occupy when the car is to serve as a general servicecar. This' modification is illustrated in Fig. 6.

, From the foregoing description it will be.

seen that I have invented an-improved combination freight car which may be conveniently convertedeither into a center dump hopper car, or into a fiat side dump general y service car.

It will be further observed that in my invention when the .car is adjusted to serve as a general service car it will comprise drop ioor doors on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof extending from end 'to end of the car, while when the car is ad-l justed to serve as a center dump hopper car only the portionthereof intermediate of the trucks will be utilized so as to efficiently serve asl a ballast car.

Itwill also be evident that I have invented an improved under-frame structure for freight cars comprising novel forms of lonitudinal sills extending through cross bearers also of novel construction.

While I have described my invention with more or less minuteness and as being embodied in certain precise forms, yet it will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself thereto unduly, or anymore than is pointed out in the claims. I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction, and arrangement, the. omission of immaterial parts, and the substitution of equivalents, as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

v I claim: y

l. In a combination freight car, the combination with bodily displaceable floor sections at the opposite sides of the longitudilnal center-line of the car, means for supporting said sections in inclined positions converging downwardly from the car sldes, a structure intermediate of the inner edges of said sections to control the central dis.- charge of lading, means for pivotally sup- 'porting the l inner edges of said y sections On the contrary,

whenfthey are moved inwardly to serve as drop floor'doors, and means for supporting said .sections in, lowering them from, and raising them to substantially the horizontal plane of v.the car iioor.

v 2. 'In al freight car, the combination with a plurality of bodily displaceableY longitudinal floor sections `on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car, of means for supportingsaid sections in downwardly converging inclined position; means for pivotally supporting the inner edges of said sections when adjusted inwardly to form portions of a fiat floor, and means for supporting said sections in, lowering them from, and raising them into horizontal' alinement with the level of the car floor.

3. In a combination freight car, the com- I ment with the car floor.

f4. In a combination freight car, the combination `with a longitudinal hopper below the floor level, of laterally movable floor sections at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car, means for supporting said sections in inclined position to form continuations of said hopper, means for pivotally supporting the inner edges of said sections when they serve as drop floorldoors, means for raising and lowering sald sections lnto and out of alinement wlth the car fioor, extenslon plates pivotally connected withthe inner edges of, v said sections, and means for supporting said plates adjacent the longitudinal center of the car to form a car fioor intermediate of the inner edges of said sections when the latter serve as drop fioordoors.

5. In a combination freight car, the combination with a hopper below the loor level, of a plurality of laterally movable floor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car intermediate of close the space between the side edges adjacent sections, said strips adapted to overlie the cross bearers when the sections serve as Hoor doors, and means for raising and lowering said sections into and out of alinement with the car floor.

6. In a combination freight car,thec0111;-

. positions or to pivotally support the inner,

bination with a hopper below the floor level,

of a` plurality of laterally movable floor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car intermediate of the cross bearers, means for supporting v said ,sections in inclined positions to form continuations of said hopper, means for pivotally supporting the inner edges of said sections when they are moved inwardly to form drop Hoor doors, movable filler strips toA sections, means for supporting said plates i adjacent the longitudinal center ofthe car to form 'central floor strips intermediate of said sections when the latterserve as drop floor doors, and means 'for raising and lowering said sections into and out of' alineinent with the car,loor.

7. In a convertible freight car, the combination with laterally displaceable floor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car, pairsof transversely spaced bearings fixed to the cross bearers, projections at each side of the inner edges of said sections adapted to engage the outer bearings of said pairs to support said sections in inclined downwardly converging positions or to engage the inner bearings of said pairs to pivotally support the inner edges of said sections for the latter to serve as drop floor doors, and means engaging said sections to raise and lower the same. to and from the level of the car floor.

8. In a convertible freight car, the combination with laterally displaceable floor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the4 car, bearings fixed to the cross bearers, projections at each side of the inner edges of said sections adapted to engage said bearings to support said sections in inclined downwardly converging edges of said sections for the latter to serve as drop floor doors, a plate pivotally connected with the inner edge of each of said sections, means for supporting said plates adjacent the longitudinal center line of the car to form iioor strips intermediate of said sections when the latter serve as dro floor doors, and means engaging 'said sections to raise and lower the same to and from the level of the car floor.

9. In a convertible freight car, the combi'- nation with laterally movable fioor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car, bearings fixed to the cross bearer, projections at each side of the inner edges of said sections adapted to engage said b earings to support said sections in inclinedy downwardly converging positions or to pivotally support the 4inner edges of said sections for the latter to serve as vdrop floor doors, a plate pivotally connected with-the inner edge of each of said sections, means for supporting 'said plates adjacent the longitudinal center-line of the car to form floor strips intermediate of said sections when the latter serve as drop loor doors, movable filler strips to close the space between the side edgesof adjacent sections when 'said sections are supported in inj clined positions, said strips adapted to overlie the cross bearers when the sections serve as drop floor doors, and means engaging said sections to raise and lower the Asame to and from the level of the car floor.

10. Ina combination freight car, the combination with'laterally movable sections at the opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the car intermediate of the cross bearers, bearings fixedto the cross bearings,

projections at each side of the inner edges of said sections adapted`to engage said bearings to support said sections in inclined downwardly converging positionor to pivotally support the inner edges of said sections for the latter to serve as drop floor doors, movable fillerstrips to close the spaces between the side edges of adjacent sections when the latter are supported in inclined positions and to overlie the cross bearers when the sections serve as drop floor doors, a plate pivotally connected with the inner edge of each of said sections, means for supporting said plates adjacent the longitudinal center-line of the car to form floor strips from end to end of the car and pivoted at their inner edges adjacent the longitudinal center-line of the car, means for raising and lowering saiddoors into and out of alinement with the car floor, means-for supporting a. plurality of the center doors in in clined downwardly converging'positions to form a center dump hopper, means intermediatey of the inner edges of said center doors to control the central discharge of lading, and means for supporting the end.

walls in hopper.

12. In a convertible freight car,- the combination with a plurality of laterally Inovxable sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center-line of the car occupying the spaces between the cross bearers, bearings fixed to the cross bearers, trunnions at each side of the inner edges of said sections adapted to engage said bearings to support' said sections in downwardly converging inclined positlons or to pivotally position to form the ends of said support the inner edges of said sections for the latter to serve as drop Vioor doors, movable filler strips to close the spaces between the side edges of adjacent sections when the latter are supported in inclined position, each of said sections being pivotally connected to the trunnion on one of the adjacent sections, a plate pivotally connected with the inner edge of each of said sections through the medium of said trunnions, means for supporting said plates adjacent the longitudinal center line of the car to form ioor strips intermediate of the sec-V tions when the latter serve as drop floor doors, and means for raising and lowering said sections into and out of alinement with the floor level.

13. A car comprising a floor formed of sections having a sliding and swinging movement transversely of the car, and sup porting brackets secured to the car frame and having a plurality of seats to support the inner edges of said sections in different longitudinal planes.

14. A car comprising a Hoor formed of' sections having a sliding and a swinging movement transversely of the car, and longitudinal plates movable into horizontal posi- ,tion to overlie the outer edges of said sections, and movable into vertical positions to permit movement of the outer edges of said sections.

' 15. A car comprising fixed side walls and -a floor formed of sections having a sliding means for supporting said' sections in in-lv clined position to form continuations of said hopper, means for pivotally supporting the inner edges of said sections when they serve as drop floor doors,.and means for raising and lowering said sections.

17. In a combination freight car, the combination with a longitudinal hopper below the Hoor level, bodily displaceable floor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, means for supporting the inner edges of said sections in the planes of the walls of said hopper for said sections to form continuations of saidL hopper, mea-ns located ynearer the center line, of the cai` than said first means for pivotally supporting the inner edges of said sections when theyl serve as drop floor doors, and means Jfor raising and lowering said sec tions.

18. In a combination freight car, the combination with a longitudinal permanent hopper, the top of which terminates in a horizontal plane below the Hoor level, ot' bodily displaceable floor sections on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, means for supporting said sections in inclined position to form continuations of said hopper, means for pivotally supporting the inner edges of said sections when theyserve as drop Hoor doors, means for raising and lowering said sections, longitudinal center plates, means for supporting said center plates between the inner edges of said sections when the latter Serve as p drop floor doors, and means Jfor supporting said pla-tes in inclined positions between the'top edges of the walls of the hopper and the inner edges of said sections when the latter serve as continuations of said hopper.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

HARRY S. HART.

Witnesses J. S. MAURER, CHARLES F. Frr'rs. 

